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SC/ 7
Beautiful Location
"In tl:c::;c d:l~:3 time:::; ytere: g('hd
while the beautiful location of the
camp attracted men seeking busi­negs
locations. By .the Fall of
1RR3 a number of (rame business
hllildings had been erected also
a few residences, all or' native 01'
local sawed lumber.
"A t this time the Maginnis
i\lining company, Hauser and Hol­ter
uf Helena. had a small oscil­lating-
mill on the 01'0 Cache
which was abandoned for a new
I.!:'JI .stamp mill' the following year
w1lrle the Collar Mining company
was building a ten stamp mill in
what was' known as Collar Gulch.
Ipss than a inile nortlleast' of"
'\'[aidcn. \Vhile the Maginnis COIll­}
lany operated sucGessfully' for
ahont t.ltrer: years, the Collar com­}
1any, composed' 'largeJy of. St.
Paul stockholders, met with fail­lire,
if not disaster. It ·was a
ease of huilding an expensive mill
hcfore ascertaining whether they I
had a mine or not. Although it \
cost $150,000 the company aban-dtllled
it, Jeaving many unpaid
hills. The mill was not operated
ovel' 30 days altogether and all
of the desirable machinery was
IJllrchased for a song by P. W.
McAdaw and moved to the Spot­t,'
d Horse' mine which was a
rich llroducer (or several years;
"By the spring of 1885, miners,
prospectors and citizens were pret­ty
much discouraged. By the fall
of '85 the camp had lost two­Ihinls
or its population. In August
o[ that year the plant of the' Min­eral
Argus was' moved to Lew­istown
and the name of the paper
ehallged to the Fergus County AI'­g"
us. In 1883, Lewistown without
a postoffice, the office still being
at. Reedsfort. had a population of
nhout 50 people, while Malden,
counting t.he boys in the "l1llls"
who got Into town at night, had'
between :100 and 400' people. It
wus 'a typical new mining camp
with the bright~st pi'ospects. '
. "nut· nature was unkind and
penurious with her hidden' trea­sures,
much the· $aro8 as with oil
-the wealth was where you found
It. But it was a lively. carop: ~or
two or. three y.ears;":'espeelalty:"o.t
night: There were about seven
saloons, open to both sexes, and
there was more or less gambling
in all-stud' poker being the pop·
ulal' game. But after all. good law­abiding
citizens were in the ma­jority.
Bad men there were whose
hip pockets buldged slightly. there
occasional gun play over stacks I
?f "reds and blues" but no kill· \
IIlgs. .
2 Lewistowll Daily News Thursday, Jan. 5, 1950.
------_--:..:~-~:.::...:::..::.~
Maiden Was Gay Old Town
In Earlier Days in Area i
i\lrs. G. J. 'Viedeman, who has
Ill'Ohably been here as long as any
lady in Central Montana, has a
host of interesting clippings from
Ilewsp[lpers on the hist.ory of this
fit ,la._
nne .from the Lewistown Demo­cl'<
lt-News tells the story ,of old
.Maiden in its hey-day, as follows:
"We (10 not knuwn if it has ever
lHlCIl defini! ely determined how
Mai(len got it.s name," said the late
.111hll M. Vrouman some years ago
as he reminisced about the mIning
(lamp whero he hegan his career
:If; 11 Montana new'sl'aperman.
Vmoman, who started the Min­el'al
Argus at Maiden In 1883 came
tu Lewletown and establieh~d the
Fel',l?;os County Argus in 18S·0. Lat­eI'
htl sold out and began publish­in~
a paper at Grase Range.
'''Iritiug from Grass Range, Vroo­m'm
said that "Even some of the
first resilIent!! o( the place seem
to be in doubt" as to where the
Ilame of Maiden was obtained,
t hough he snggested that "it lIlay
have lJeen due to the newness o(
thp (~amJl." He continued:
"Possihly Judge "VaRson 01' "Val­tel'S.
Smith could throw some
lildlt on the mattel'. As regards
the origin of the lJame it is as
mllch a' mystery as that of Lew­istowII.
Both should he removpd
from the realm of, doubt.
"The eamp was iu the center
of a mining region discovered in
J 8f;~ 01' 1881. The stampede large­Jy
Irom the Black Hills of South
Dakota reached its height in the
lattpr yeai' when prospecting com­lllellced
in earnest and the camp
commenced .1.0 grow. By midsum­mer
of 1883 when Charles S. Fell
and the writel' arrived in the
camp from Minncapulls. it had
reached its heh\ht of prosperity.
Located on a plateau in the heart
of the Judith range it was sur­)'
011 nded by well-timbered UJoun­tains.
suitable for ·mining and
huilding purposes, while splendid
water was ample for quartz mills
anel domestic pllrposes but not \
sufficient for placer mining.

MAIDEN WAS GAY OLD TOWN IN EARLIER DAYS IN AREA
Mrs. G. J. Wiedeman, who has probably been here as long as any lady in Central Montana, has a host of interesting clippings from newspapers on the history of this area.
One from the Lewistown Democrat-News tells the story of old Maiden in its hey-day, as follows: “We do not known if it has ever been definitely determined how Maiden got its name,” said the late John M. Vrooman some year sago as he reminisced about the mining camp where he began his career as a Montana newspaperman.
Vrooman, who started the Mineral Argus at Maiden in 1883, came to Lewistown and 3established the Fergus County Argus in 1886. Later he sold out and began publishing a paper at Grass Range.
Writing from Grass range, Vrooman said that “Even some of the first residents of the place seem to be in doubt” as to where the name of Maiden was obtained, though he suggested that “it may have been due to the newness of the camp.” He continued:
“Possibly Judge Wasson or Walter S. Smith could throw some light on the matter. As regards the origin of the name it is as much a mystery as that of Lewistown. Both should be removed from the realm of doubt.
“The camp was in the center of a mining region discovered in 1880 or 1881. The stampede largely from the Black Hills of South Dakota reached its height in the latter year when prospecting commenced in earnest and the camp commenced to grow. By midsummer of 1883 when Charles S. Fell and the writer arrived in the camp from Minneapolis, it had reached its height of prosperity. Located on a plateau in the heart of the Judith range it was surrounded by well-timbered mountains, suitable for mining and building purposes, while splendid water was ample for quartz mills and domestic purposes but not sufficient for placer mining.
BEAUTIFUL LOCATION. “In those days times were good while the beautiful location of the camp attracted men seeking business locations. By the fall of 1883 a number of frame business a few residences, all of native or local sawed lumber.
“At this time the Maginnis Mining Company, Hauser and Holter of Helena, had a small oscillating mill on the Oro Cache which was abandoned for a new ten stamp mill the following year while the Collar Mining Company was building a ten in what was known as Collar Gulch, less than a mile northeast of Maiden. While the Maginnis Company operated successfully for about three years, the Collar Company, composed largely of ST. Paul stockholders, met with failure, if not disaster. It was a case of building an expensive mill before ascertaining whether they had a mine or not. Although it cost $150,000 the company abandoned it, leaving many unpaid bills. The mill was not operated over 30 days all together and all of the desirable machinery was purchased for a song by P. W. McAdow and moved to the Spotted Horse mine which was a rich producer for several years.
“By the spring of 1885, miners, prospectors and citizens were pretty much discouraged. By the fall of ’85 the camp had lost two thirds of its population. In August of that year the plant of the Mineral Argus was moved to Lewistown and the name of the paper changed to the Fergus County Argus. In 1883, Lewistown without a post office, the office still being at Reedsfort, had a population of about 50 people, while Maiden, counting the boys in the “hills” who got into town at night, had between 300 and 400 people. It was a typical new mining camp with the brightest prospects.
“But nature was unkind and penurious with her hidden treasures, much the same as with oil – wealth was where you found it. But it was a lively camp for two or three years, especially at night. There were about seven salons, open to both sexes, and there was more or less gambling in all – stud poker being the popular game. But after all, good law-abiding citizens were in the majority. Bad men there were whose hip pockets budged slightly, there occasional gun play over stacks of “red and blues” but no killings.
“One fellow, under the influence of liquor, essayed to take a shot into a window of a building where Bishop Brewer was holding services but his arm was stuck and the bullet deflected to the lower part of the building. When told of the incident, the good bishop remarked: ‘I don’t think the fellow had anything against me’. That was true. When not drinking he was one of the best men in the camp.
“One of the bad men, at times, was Tom Newcomb, who killed a man at Deadwood, in the Black Hills, One other noted character was “kicking George” Gantz, although a gambler, he was not a ‘bad man’ but good natured and gentlemanly. He was a bad loser. He did not like to be bluffed on two deuces. When he roared he could he could be heard a block away. He was known to many old residents in Lewistown.
“In a mining camp there are always some who give much time to amusements of various kinds during the long winter evenings, but I feel that I am taking up too much of your valuable space in going into personalities.
INDIAN SCARE. “One of the thrills that we experienced was an Indian scare in the summer of 1884 or 85. It was reported that a small band of Indians had been seen on Bull creek in the foothill of the north Moccasin Mountains. Maiden was thorough aroused. Every man who could get a horse and gun was soon speeding down the gulch on the open prairie. We found difficulty in getting a gun in obedience to the summons, “John get your gun.” We finally found a sawed-off rifle that had given shelter to a bullet for about two years. Equipped with a slow horse we brought up the rear some distance from the main bunch and a little to the north.
“Of course there were no Indians to be found but soon the main bunch came riding toward us yelling wildly and waiving their guns. We had dismounted to cinch the saddle which wouldn’t stay put, and in trying to remount we had taken the wrong side of the horse – Indian fashion. As that was the only thing they saw that resembled and Indian they were determined to have some fun out of it, all did for months afterwards. After that, we hunted and killed all our Indians on foot.
“The story of Maiden’s first justice of the peace and high court would have been a find for America’s greatest humorist. A quaint character, known in camp as ‘Pony’ McPartland, was a pointed Maiden’s first justice in 1881 or 82. This being before our arrival in camp we do not feel able to do the jurist justice. “Pony” was all his name implies, a jolly, wholehearted fellow always in for fun, and ready to go “fifty-fifty” with a friend in need. He had probably spent the most of his life on the western prairies and in mini camps. His dress was that the hunter and trapper.
REVOLVER JUSTICE. “When installed as justice his jurisdiction knew no bounds. When he called court to order he would lay his revolver on the table and say, ‘Now, children be good’ and every one present obeyed the junction. He married the first couple to wed in Maiden and his advice to them after the ceremony was unique if not elegant. No minister would choose to copy after. He probably would not have hesitated to grant a divorce, if asked.
“McPartland visited Maiden frequently in the early 80’s after retiring from the bench. He was a good story teller and sang well. The first two verses of one of choice selections, dedicated to mule, were as follows: There’s a story handed down from old Methuselah and learned when a little boy at school, when you monkey ‘round the hind shoe on a mule. The business end of a mule just mighty ticklish, it never misses fire as a rule. So when you think the animal is getting old and feeble Touch him not, there’s mischief in a mule.
“In closing, we must say that we do not wish to be regarded one who underestimates the value of the mineral wealth of the Judith Mountains. There is gold, silver, lead and iron ore.
“There are several gulches that contain placer gold which could be worked to profit with the hydraulic process. The lack of water is the only obstacle in the way. There are mountains that contain pockets or deposits or ore. Probably some day when money is more plentiful, large companies may be formed to tear them to pieces secure the precious metals.”

SC/ 7
Beautiful Location
"In tl:c::;c d:l~:3 time:::; ytere: g('hd
while the beautiful location of the
camp attracted men seeking busi­negs
locations. By .the Fall of
1RR3 a number of (rame business
hllildings had been erected also
a few residences, all or' native 01'
local sawed lumber.
"A t this time the Maginnis
i\lining company, Hauser and Hol­ter
uf Helena. had a small oscil­lating-
mill on the 01'0 Cache
which was abandoned for a new
I.!:'JI .stamp mill' the following year
w1lrle the Collar Mining company
was building a ten stamp mill in
what was' known as Collar Gulch.
Ipss than a inile nortlleast' of"
'\'[aidcn. \Vhile the Maginnis COIll­}
lany operated sucGessfully' for
ahont t.ltrer: years, the Collar com­}
1any, composed' 'largeJy of. St.
Paul stockholders, met with fail­lire,
if not disaster. It ·was a
ease of huilding an expensive mill
hcfore ascertaining whether they I
had a mine or not. Although it \
cost $150,000 the company aban-dtllled
it, Jeaving many unpaid
hills. The mill was not operated
ovel' 30 days altogether and all
of the desirable machinery was
IJllrchased for a song by P. W.
McAdaw and moved to the Spot­t,'
d Horse' mine which was a
rich llroducer (or several years;
"By the spring of 1885, miners,
prospectors and citizens were pret­ty
much discouraged. By the fall
of '85 the camp had lost two­Ihinls
or its population. In August
o[ that year the plant of the' Min­eral
Argus was' moved to Lew­istown
and the name of the paper
ehallged to the Fergus County AI'­g"
us. In 1883, Lewistown without
a postoffice, the office still being
at. Reedsfort. had a population of
nhout 50 people, while Malden,
counting t.he boys in the "l1llls"
who got Into town at night, had'
between :100 and 400' people. It
wus 'a typical new mining camp
with the bright~st pi'ospects. '
. "nut· nature was unkind and
penurious with her hidden' trea­sures,
much the· $aro8 as with oil
-the wealth was where you found
It. But it was a lively. carop: ~or
two or. three y.ears;":'espeelalty:"o.t
night: There were about seven
saloons, open to both sexes, and
there was more or less gambling
in all-stud' poker being the pop·
ulal' game. But after all. good law­abiding
citizens were in the ma­jority.
Bad men there were whose
hip pockets buldged slightly. there
occasional gun play over stacks I
?f "reds and blues" but no kill· \
IIlgs. .
2 Lewistowll Daily News Thursday, Jan. 5, 1950.
------_--:..:~-~:.::...:::..::.~
Maiden Was Gay Old Town
In Earlier Days in Area i
i\lrs. G. J. 'Viedeman, who has
Ill'Ohably been here as long as any
lady in Central Montana, has a
host of interesting clippings from
Ilewsp[lpers on the hist.ory of this
fit ,la._
nne .from the Lewistown Demo­cl'<
lt-News tells the story ,of old
.Maiden in its hey-day, as follows:
"We (10 not knuwn if it has ever
lHlCIl defini! ely determined how
Mai(len got it.s name" said the late
.111hll M. Vrouman some years ago
as he reminisced about the mIning
(lamp whero he hegan his career
:If; 11 Montana new'sl'aperman.
Vmoman, who started the Min­el'al
Argus at Maiden In 1883 came
tu Lewletown and establieh~d the
Fel',l?;os County Argus in 18S·0. Lat­eI'
htl sold out and began publish­in~
a paper at Grase Range.
'''Iritiug from Grass Range, Vroo­m'm
said that "Even some of the
first resilIent!! o( the place seem
to be in doubt" as to where the
Ilame of Maiden was obtained,
t hough he snggested that "it lIlay
have lJeen due to the newness o(
thp (~amJl." He continued:
"Possihly Judge "VaRson 01' "Val­tel'S.
Smith could throw some
lildlt on the mattel'. As regards
the origin of the lJame it is as
mllch a' mystery as that of Lew­istowII.
Both should he removpd
from the realm of, doubt.
"The eamp was iu the center
of a mining region discovered in
J 8f;~ 01' 1881. The stampede large­Jy
Irom the Black Hills of South
Dakota reached its height in the
lattpr yeai' when prospecting com­lllellced
in earnest and the camp
commenced .1.0 grow. By midsum­mer
of 1883 when Charles S. Fell
and the writel' arrived in the
camp from Minncapulls. it had
reached its heh\ht of prosperity.
Located on a plateau in the heart
of the Judith range it was sur­)'
011 nded by well-timbered UJoun­tains.
suitable for ·mining and
huilding purposes, while splendid
water was ample for quartz mills
anel domestic pllrposes but not \
sufficient for placer mining.